The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-26
WHY JACOB APPEARS SO ILL.
Some Inside Facts That are Rather In
teMStinE

NNNDN'NAAAeS"
NEW YORK, July 23.-Throughout the
trial of Jacob Sharp the warden of the Jail
furnished TO the reporters daily bulletins.
telling how dreadfully i'll the old man was
curing the night, how he was unable to eat
breakfast and how it seemed doubtful if the
prisoner would be ahlo to get to court.
After the convictionSharp'sc unditionwas re-
ported to be precarioUs; he was liable to drop
dead at any moment. His weak and broken
appearance was graphically described in
the papers, and reporters were detailed to
hang around the jail to get the first news
In the event Of his sudden death. His law
yers feared that he would not be able to en-
dllre the shock Of being sentenced, and they
declared that he would die Immediately if
sent to prison. Everybody was asked to
pity the sorrows of a poor old man, who had
done nothing but steal million or two and
buy board of Aldermen. Judge Barrett
was urged to have mercy on this interesting
invalid and impose only a fine, so that he
might go home and die in the bosom of his
family. Jacob was so weak that he had to
be carried into court to receive sentence,
and he could scarcely raise his head from
his breast. He could not stand while SEN
tence was being pronounced, but when the
Judge gave him only four years and a fine
that is less than the fee of one of his law
yers, old Jacob Sharp could not wholly con-
ceal his satisfaction at the success of his
| plan. There was n sudden recovery of ami
nation for an instant and CLEAN of tri-
umph in his eyes. Then he recollected, and
! sunk once more into asemi-stupor. He was
taken down TO the Sheriff's office to wait
while the place of detention, pending the
transfer to Sing Sing, should be selected
| The reporters were not admitted, but We're
| knJ1t IyaitiTocr O11tSi1a official
official news given out was that the long
stay in the Sheriffs office was caused by
Mr.. Sbarp's sudden and alarming illness.
| That report was given out, as all the re-
ports about the boodler's deplorable eondi-
| ton had been, by his legal custodians and
his lawyers. 1t was simply and absolutely
false. One man connected with the press
had quietly walked into the Sheriff's office
and taken his seat in a corner where nobody
| paid any attention to him He asked no
questions, did not make himself conspicuous,
and he closely observed everything that oc-
CURED. He saw Jacob Sharp's miraculous
recovery from his semi-stupor and detection.
| He saw this feeble old man talk in q very
animated and healthy manner to his coun-
| sci for half an hour at stretch without ia
| tigue. He saw the officers who had charge
of the prisoner go to him for instruc-
| lions and listen in deferential manner to
| WllaU ne Sdlu. lDelf attitude toward Snafil
was singularly similar to the attitude of
servant toward an employer. There was
nothing in their manner to indicate that
they were turnkeys and he prisoner The
Sheriff was in doubt whether he had right
to send Sharp back to comfortable quarters
in Ludlow Street Jail, or if Sharp should
be sent to the Tombs like any other crimi
nal. He said he would take legal advice on
| the matter. He consulted with Sharp's
lawyers and then retired to his inner office,
| The legal advice must have come by inspi-
ration, for no lawyer was summoned to that
inner office. When the Sheriff came out he
was satisfied that he had power to return
the prisoner to comfortable quarters. Then
the old man became feeble again and was
| lifted into a carriage. Reports of his pre-
carious condition continue to reach the pa
pers from the Jail, because the sympathy
dodge may have to be worked again if
Sharp's lawyers succeed in their appeal
Sharp is not a well man, but he is not half
as sick as he is represented. 1t would be in
teresting to know how much it costs the
great boodler to be on the brink of dissolu-
| ton every morning when the reporters call
for news. A. 2. KELLY.